Deriving its name from the picturesque Mount Chalambar near Great Western in central Victoria, Seppelt Chalambar Shiraz has an excellent pedigree, having been made since 1953. Originally crafted by the legendary Colin Preece and labelled as Chalambar Burgundy, this wine has become one of the most sought after Seppelt releases each year due to its consistency, quality and value.

Deep, dark red. An intense and complex nose of dark berry aromas, sweet spice and dark chocolate nuances with underlying, integrated cedary oak. This dense medium to full bodied wine has fleshy palate weight with flavours of spicy dark berry fruits and chocolate, supported by velvety textural tannins and cedary oak. The finish is long with a savoury complexity. Cellaring Potential To 2030.

Throughout the 1950s and early 1960s, with great winemaker Colin Preece at the helm, this was a commercial wine blended from many components and sold for a song. Those wines are glorious to drink now if you are lucky enough to find one. Preece would be proud of this wine, which has beautifully polished and highly perfumed red and black fruits, violets, black pepper and clove. A truly medium-bodied shiraz, fresh, succulent and vibrant, with racy acidity, fine-grained tannins and great persistence; long, harmonious and seamless. It's good now up to 20+ years. Drink To: 2025; Rating 95 Points; Alcohol: 13.5%; James Halliday, Australian Wine Companion

The 2009 Seppelt Chalambar Shiraz ($26) and 2008 Seppelt St Peters Grampians Shiraz ($69) provide consummate evidence of fine winemaking and meticulous fruit selection. The Chalambar has been around for almost 60 years, a wine first brought to prominence by legendary winemaker Colin Preece. Fruit is sourced from two highly distinctive and contrasting wine regions, Grampians and Bendigo. The elegance and softness of the Grampians component tempers the bold strength of the Bendigo fruit delivering a wine with first-rate length and structure. John Fordham; The Sunday Telegraph

Time of writing, this wine is about to hit the bottleshops. What absolute cracking value it is. Fill the cellar. And it is a tribute to the winemaking skills of Emma Wood, as this is very impressive for the vintage. Black fruits, leather, black jellybeans, florals, aniseed, spice. This is towards the elegant end of the spectrum. Quite fine tannins. Plenty of length. This is a shiraz with breeding – and to say that about a wine at this price, from that vintage, you have to be impressed. Balance, finesse, intensity, a good future. Delicious. Have not been too many better Chalambars, I suspect. 93 Points; Ken Gargett; Spit Bucket.

The flagship wine in the Seppelt portfolio, St Peters is sourced from the finest and most intense estate grown fruit and is the ultimate expression of cool climate Grampians Shiraz. The lineage of this iconic wine dates back to 1964 when Great Western Hermitage was first made. The wine is only made in exceptional years and is now called St Peters after the name of our most historic block of Shiraz. This wine, made in very small quantities, is a carefully balanced medium bodied wine that displays complex flavours reflective of the local terroir. There are distinctive regional Shiraz characters and this wine will age gracefully with careful long term cellaring. Blue-Purple-Red. An enticing nose with perfumed sweet spice, blueberry fruits and complexing savoury nuances. Intense mulberry and black fruit characters combine with savoury and spice notes. This impeccably structured wine displays fine textural tannins and structural oak with layers of complexity and an exceptionally long finish. The rapid ripening during the 2008 vintage created incredibly dense, powerful wines that have great vibrancy and regional complexity from the Grampians. The wines from Bendigo are some of the best to pass through the Seppelt winery. An absolute stellar year that will be a classic in years to come. Winemaker notes.

Winner - World's Greatest Shiraz Challenge VI (2011)
Top Australian Wine -  World's Greatest Shiraz Challenge VI (2011)
Best in category ($70-80) -  World's Greatest Shiraz Challenge VI (2011)

A definitive Great Western shiraz from the Grampians region of western Victoria. Unashamedly seeking Grand Cru status for this wine, sourced from the low-yielding St Peters, Imperial and Police vineyards. 2008: A Grand Cru wine just beginning to reveal its layers of depth and character. Dark and alluring, with wild and briary aromas of violets, cassis, blackberries and mulberries underpinned by nuances of dusty, musky spices, nuances of menthol. It's sumptuously flavoured but supremely elegant, long and fine grained, with a velvety undercarriage of pliant tannins. Earthy, wild and very pexpressive, with layers of fruit, minerality and structure, it culminates in a finish of remarkable balance and persistence. Drink: 2020-2028; 95 Points; Jeremy Oliver; 2012 Australian Wine Annual

Purple-crimson; a complex bouquet with fragrant blackberry, plum and licorice aromas and flavours; the medium-bodied palate has very good texture and structure. 95 Points; Drinking: To 2028; James Halliday Wine Companion

Fragrances of violets and roses with traces of spicy oak. Some wonderful varietal fruit on a very tight palate with prominent oak and lovely freshness. The flavours linger long. Price: $70; 5 Stars * * * * * Winestate Magazine; September/October 2011

Shadowfax Heathcote One Eye Shiraz 2004 ($65) screwcap: Good wine. Lots of line and length. Full, dark fruit flavours hang tight to a line of integrated acidity, with chalky, minerally, tongue-hugging tannins holding it all fast. There's a slight background of eucalyptus and sandalwood, but this is a wine keen to keep its cards fairly close to its chest - for now. Drink: 2009-2016. 91 points. Campbell Mattinson; The Wine Front

Firm, dry and unyielding, this closed and sinewy shiraz has a meaty, leathery bouquet whose rather sweet and jammy aromas of red and black berries are backed by earthy and peppery complexity. Its powerful, ferrous and leathery palate of deep, minty fruit finishes rather hard and drying, and should flesh out with time in the bottle. (Heathcote, $65 retail, approx., 17.3/90, drink 2012-2016) Jeremy Oliver

18.7 (95 points); Drink: 2010 - 2014+  Jeremy Oliver

Rich, deep structure; multi-faceted black fruits; full-bodied; ripe tannins, subtle oak influence. Rating: 94 points. Drink: 2027. Price: $70. James Halliday, Wine Companion

Shadowfax Pink Cliffs Heathcote Shiraz 2002 ($67) screwcap: A long sail of fine, mature tannin sets the class of this wine – buy it, put it in the cellar, and forget about it for 10 years. It’s deep and profound, punts jubes and aniseed and mint and minerals the length of your tongue, shows elements of coal throughout, and is never a finger near being over the top. The balance, poise and styling here is impeccable, despite the dreaded mint/eucalypt making an appearance. Drink: 2010-2020. 93 points. Winefront Monthly

The Pink Cliffs is more elegant, sappy, spicy and succulent. At $60-ish a bottle, these are amongst the areas (Heathcote) most expensive wines, but they fully justify the price. Max Allen The Australian Weekend Magazine November 27-28, 2004

Deep crimson red with a bright edge. Pure Shiraz fruit, underlying aromas of five spice, pepper and earth. A highly flavoured wine with intense black fruits, cassis, tar and spice. The tannins are fine and add another dimension of flavour while oak is barely discernible. Bright and taut as a young wine, this is a more savoury expression of Shiraz which needs time in bottle to grow. Cellar for 10+ years.

Firm, linear and substantial, this deeply fruited and powerful shiraz will flesh out over time. Its musky perfume of dark plums, berries and meaty undertones is lifted by heady aromas of pepper and spice. Steeped in sumptuous flavours of black berries, plums and dark chocolate, its brooding and deeply layered palate is framed by a drying cut of powdery astringency, finishing long and savoury. (Heathcote, $65 retail, approx., 18.3/94, drink 2016-2024) Jeremy Oliver

Shadowfax Heathcote Pink Cliffs Shiraz 2004 ($65) screwcap: Far more boisterous and cuddly than the One Eye - this is a velvety mouthful of fun. Blackberries, Ribena, licorice, eucalyptus, cedarwood, all of which flows unfettered towards a long, supple, fruity finish. Perfect balance.  Lovely drink. Drink: 2007-2013. 92 points. Campbell Mattinson; The Wine Front

Using cooler climate fruit, this wine is a modern interpretation of Australian Shiraz. Whilst traditionally associated with warm regions, Shiraz has also proven to be a star performer, when carefully managed, in the cool climate of the Adelaide Hills. Vineyards: 100% Adelaide Hills. The wine was matured for 15 months in new, one and two year old French oak barriques. The Adelaide Hills has now proven it can make truly exciting spicy Shiraz. The key is careful site selection, low yields and restrained use of oak. The blend component from the warmer sub-area of Macclesfield gives structure and richness, whilst Balhannah contributes spiciness and perfume. A vibrant, modern interpretation of Australian Shiraz.
 
Deep and compelling levels of ripe black fruits, savoury spices and well handled toasty oak; the palate is unctuous and silky, with black and red fruits combining with silky fine-grained tannins expanding across the palate with true grace and harmony; long and luscious. Exceptional track record in international tastings over the past year. From Adelaide Hills, SA; Drink to 2025 with grain-fed beef; Rating: 97 points, $40, Screwcap, 14.5% alc; James Halliday Top 100 for 2011; The Weekend Australian, November 19

Deep colour, vibrant hue; deep and compelling levels of ripe black fruits, savoury spices and well handled toasty oak; the palate is unctuous and silky, with black and red fruits combining with silky fine-grained tannins expanding across the palate with true grace and harmony; long and luscious. 96 Points; James Halliday, Australian Wine Companion August 2011
 
Shaw & Smith regularly makes some of the smartest Shiraz in the land. Very deep red-purple colour; the bouquet is spicy and ripe with ironstone and dark-fruit aromas. In the mouth it’s rich and concentrated, powerful and commanding, with brilliant ripeness and impressive length. Now to 2034; 96 points; Huon Hooke; Sydney Morning Herald
 
This is a beautifully made spicy dark cherry style which is perfectly poised and utterly delicious.  One of Australia’s finest reds.  (not yet released.)   Excellent value. Outstanding; Lester Jesberg; Winewise
 
One of the new-wave, cool-climate shiraz brigade that offers a vibrant fruited approach rather than heavier, dark and often over-ripe warmer region styles. With this comes a spicy, peppery edge, a distinct pull back in the oak department and a bite in the red berry fruit elements. It's alive, energetic and lovely to drink. 94 Points; Tony Love, Top 100 Wines - Taste.com.au

Champion Red - Winewise Championship 2011
Gold Medal  - Adelaide Hills Wine Show 2010

Using cooler climate fruit, this wine is a modern interpretation of Australian Shiraz. Whilst traditionally associated with warm regions, Shiraz has also proven to be a star performer, when carefully managed, in the cool climate of the Adelaide Hills. Vineyards: 100% Adelaide Hills. The wine was matured for 15 months in new, one and two year old French oak barriques. The Adelaide Hills has now proven it can make truly exciting spicy Shiraz. The key is careful site selection, low yields and restrained use of oak. The blend component from the warmer sub-area of Macclesfield gives structure and richness, whilst Balhannah contributes spiciness and perfume. A vibrant, modern interpretation of Australian Shiraz.
 
Deep and compelling levels of ripe black fruits, savoury spices and well handled toasty oak; the palate is unctuous and silky, with black and red fruits combining with silky fine-grained tannins expanding across the palate with true grace and harmony; long and luscious. Exceptional track record in international tastings over the past year. From Adelaide Hills, SA; Drink to 2025 with grain-fed beef; Rating: 97 points, $40, Screwcap, 14.5% alc; James Halliday Top 100 for 2011; The Weekend Australian, November 19

Deep colour, vibrant hue; deep and compelling levels of ripe black fruits, savoury spices and well handled toasty oak; the palate is unctuous and silky, with black and red fruits combining with silky fine-grained tannins expanding across the palate with true grace and harmony; long and luscious. 96 Points; James Halliday, Australian Wine Companion August 2011
 
Shaw & Smith regularly makes some of the smartest Shiraz in the land. Very deep red-purple colour; the bouquet is spicy and ripe with ironstone and dark-fruit aromas. In the mouth it’s rich and concentrated, powerful and commanding, with brilliant ripeness and impressive length. Now to 2034; 96 points; Huon Hooke; Sydney Morning Herald
 
This is a beautifully made spicy dark cherry style which is perfectly poised and utterly delicious.  One of Australia’s finest reds.  (not yet released.)   Excellent value. Outstanding; Lester Jesberg; Winewise
 
One of the new-wave, cool-climate shiraz brigade that offers a vibrant fruited approach rather than heavier, dark and often over-ripe warmer region styles. With this comes a spicy, peppery edge, a distinct pull back in the oak department and a bite in the red berry fruit elements. It's alive, energetic and lovely to drink. 94 Points; Tony Love, Top 100 Wines - Taste.com.au

Champion Red - Winewise Championship 2011
Gold Medal  - Adelaide Hills Wine Show 2010

Barossa Valley; Shiraz 53%; Mataro 37%; Grenache 10%; Ten of the best new wineries: Wow what an impressive newcomer this is, owned by New Zealand-born Peter Schell and French-born wife Magali Gely. After graduation from Roseworthy they worked for four vintages in the south of France, and when they established Spinifex, it was only natural to focus on Mourvèdre, Grenache, Shiraz and Cinsault. Great wine and immaculate packaging is a heady mixture... So far as I am concerned Spinifex out-Torbrecks Torbreck. James Halliday

Deep purple-crimson; there is a bottomless well of ripe black fruits on the bouquet and velvety rich, medium- to full-bodied palate, and no hint of elevated alcohol or dead fruit; wonderful complexity and length, and tantalising glimpses of what the wine will offer over coming decades. Mataro/Shiraz. Date Tasted:18 Mar 2011. Rating:97 Points; Drink By: 2040; Price: $55.00; James Halliday

Ten of the best new wineries: Wow what an impressive newcomer this is, owned by New Zealand-born Peter Schell and French-born wife Magali Gely. After graduation from Roseworthy they worked for four vintages in the south of France, and when they established Spinifex, it was only natural to focus on Mourvèdre, Grenache, Shiraz and Cinsault. Great wine and immaculate packaging is a heady mixture... So far as I am concerned Spinifex out-Torbrecks Torbreck. James Halliday

Barossa & Eden Valleys; Shiraz 94%; Viognier 6%; Vivid, deep garnet with blue hues. The nose is bright and lifted with sweet blackberries, dark rose petals, crème de cassis, ripe raspberries, praline, bitter chocolate, coffee, earth and subtle wood smoke/toast with a hint of jasmine tea. A full bodied wine displaying complex flavours that range through red plum, ripe raspberry and subtle wood spice. The palate is tightly structured with a bright long finish. Although drinking beautifully now, cellaring will reward. (Diam cork closure)

It’s labelled Barossa and so it is, but it’s 63 percent Eden Valley, 32 percent Barossa Valley, 4 percent Adelaide Hills and 1 percent undisclosed. The viognier component makes up 4 percent. Figured as much. Lovely wine. Viognier is quite prominent aromatically and yet it’s dry and elegant to taste. Long sheets of tannin, flavours of blueberry jam, notes of earth and aniseed and a spicy, smoky aftertaste. Easy to drink and yet taut and controlled throughout. As with so many 2008 reds from the Barossa … I keep wanting just a little more length. Rated : 92 Points Alcohol : 14.5% Price : $48 Closure : Screwcap Drink : 2012 - 2018 By Campbell Mattinson; The Wine Front

Good purple-red, although not particularly vibrant; a very rich and complex wine, texture and structure excellent; the bouquet is aromatic and the full-bodied palate has abundant fruit, but this blend (Shiraz/Viognier) best delivers vibrancy in cool climates. 94 Points; James Halliday

About 10 years ago when The WineStar Journal was in its infancy, I reckon every second week saw us feature a Barossa Shiraz. We loved the stuff, our readers loved the stuff, wine critics loved the stuff. Hell, even Robert Parker, the US market and most of the free world loved Barossa Shiraz. The problem was every winemaker and his dog (every winemaker has a dog) began making one. And many weren't that good. Souped up, one dimensional, dead fruit, extracted, hot, alcoholic, fruit bombs were just some of the criticisms levelled at the genre. The quality brand of Barossa Shiraz had become diluted somewhat...

A few months ago I tried a wine that almost bought a nostalgic tear to my eye. Finally released on July 1, it encapsulates exactly what Barossa Shiraz is and should be. It is no stranger to anyone here. The St Hallett Blackwell Shiraz 2008 is just our second nomination for WineStar Wine of the Year. The wine is made from old-vine Shiraz sourced from some prime real-estate or in wine-speak the Seppeltsfield, Greenock and Ebenezer sub-regions of the Barossa. The deep inky red threatens power and intensity and the bouquet keeps up its side of the bargain. Ripe and luscious blueberry and spicy cherry aromas with hints of licorice, mocha and cured meats. The layers of flavour in the mouth need to be experienced. No one could ever accuse this of being one dimensional but nor is it extracted with a massive array of concentrated, rich and dark fruits brilliantly balanced by wonderfully persistent tannins, excellent acidity and enveloped by near perfect oak treatment. It is remarkably drinkable now but will give joy over the next decade. An Exceptional wine and a poignant reminder of how good, and great value Barossa Shiraz can be.

St Hallett's slogan is 'Grown, made and matured in the Barossa'. Sounds a little like the bleeding obvious, but there's a pride to the words that we like - and besides, a lot of wines don't stay so close to home during their making. 2008: Pretty special. It has grunt and power and balance, but as we so often say - it's the churn of tannin that really sets it apart. This is a ripsnorter. Blackberries, coal, cedarwood, smoke, deli meats and a few other things besides. Fantastic length. Fantastic structure. One taste and it instantly became a candidate for wine of the year. Price: $35; Seal: Screwcap; Alcohol: 14.5; Drink 2013-2022; Campbell Mattinson and Gary Walsh, The Big Red Wine Book 2010/11, June 2010; 95 Points and 5 Star Value.

Inky dark and chockfull of delightful aromas—bramble berry, black licorice and chocolate—this is deftly balanced and brimming with flavour. Palate-coating succulent Bing cherry and ripe mulberry mingle with savoury, leafy pie cherry flavours throughout. It’s medium to full bodied, generously textured and dishes out a lengthy finish. 4 * * * * Stars; Vic Harradine; Wine Current, UK

100% Shiraz, all fruit coming from the Seppeltsfield, Greenock and Ebenezer sub-regions of the Barossa. As you would expect from this wine and vintage –we have deep garnet red with an attractive purple hues. The colour gives rise to an expectation of concentration and power. This is a wine where the colour and bouquet speak volumes of what is to come on the palate –the bouquet is pure opulence expressing the intensity and inky density of the wine. The palate unleashes dense, rich, dark chocolate and a powerful array of dark blackberry fruits flavours. Very much a Shiraz on the prowl with a rib-eye steak on its mind! Stuart Blackwell, Winemaker

The wine is made from old-vine Shiraz sourced from some prime real-estate or in wine-speak the Seppeltsfield, Greenock and Ebenezer sub-regions of the Barossa. It is a teeth staining deep purple red and as ever is almost overwhelming on the nose with lashings of dark plum and blackberry fruit. As it warms, it reveals brighter juicy berry and kirsch-like aromas and chocolate bullet nuances keeping the brightness going. It is in the mouth that this wine really belies its price point with layer upon layer of flavours that are wide and varied. That gorgeous barrage of ripe and generous fruit is quickly balanced by the acidity, the fine grained tannins lingering on and on, the finish reminds me of the old-day Robert Parker notes - this is your 60-second finish in action! In comparison to the previous (2008) vintage, both fruit and oak have been ramped up in context, this easily has a decade or more in it. An Exceptional wine and a poignant reminder of how good, and great value Barossa Shiraz can be. Now – 2020+; Quality: Exceptional; BW; WineStar© June 2011
 
Deep purple-crimson; an outstanding vintage for Blackwell, with a wonderful mix of intense black and red berry fruits, licorice and mocha oak; good as the flavours are, so is the tapestry of the texture of the wine, finely worked and balanced. Price: $42.95; Drink: To 2030; 96 Points; James Halliday Wine Companion

Deep black-purple colour is quite brilliant and bright. Has a wonderful perfumed aroma of dark red fruit. Ripe plum, spices and even some stone fruit rind. It's complex, with layers of flavour. There's some beautiful fine-grained and high-quality oak. This is one of the tightest Blackwell has realised to date, with the extended time in seasoned American oak. Great texture and mouthfeel. It has a tight minerality which is very deep and precise. 96 Points; Weekend West, Ray Jordan
 
I tasted this at a lunch thingo the other week, and while hasty tasting is not my preferred method for evaluating cellar-worthy wines, it certainly takes up a lot less room and resources. This Blackwell comes from the Ebenezer, Seppeltsfield and Greenock sub-regions of the Barossa. Plenty of roast coconut oak, blackberry (nip), the perfume of lemon zest and flowers with a surprisingly juicy palate, given the brooding density the nose might suggest – it’s more cherries with fresh acidity (not too forced either) and plenty of powdery tannins. You’d think it might cellar pretty well too. Large scale, robust and full-flavoured, but not leaden. An impressive wine within its style. Rated : 94 Points Tasted : May11 Price : $42.95 Closure : Screwcap Drink : 2011 - 2018+ Gary Walsh; The Wine Front
 
This sits in the middle of the plethora of shiraz that St Hallett release but that is, in many ways, damning it with faint praise. Many producers would surely be very happy to have this as their flagship making it rare value! Attractively perfumes. Has a hint of peppermint along with florals, violets, spice, chocolate and black fruits. An entrancing style. Has serious length. Fine but firm tannins. Real length but a pretty edge nonetheless. Loads of richness. Lovely violets. This is a classic, cracker Barossa shiraz. 93 Points; Ken Gargett
 
Captures the power and glory of the Barossa. With fruit sourced from three Barossa sub-regions (Ebenezer, Seppeltsfield and Greenock), Blackwell’s resounding and elegant fruit flavours make a thundering palate impression. John Fordham, Sunday Telegraph

Dense, inky dark red colour with purple hues. Intense layers of ripe raspberry and blackberry aromas with licorice and vanilla orchid after thoughts. The opening act is all about intense, full bodied black forest cake flavours with soft texture. This opening integrates seamlessly with a pleasing grainy, chocolate like mouthfeel and some anise and mocha characters at the finale. It evokes an image and feeling of wrapping oneself in the big purple velvet curtain at the State theatre. As our cellar manager Greg Schmidt says: “Forget Tom Cruise and the Sunday roast, you’re better off with a juicy rib eye steak and a bottle of Blackwell. The 2009 vintage will be an excellent cellaring wine. 8-12 yr easy and longer under good conditions. Winemaker's Notes

Finely crafted and harmoniously balanced, with a juicy presence of blackberries, blueberries, raspberries, cassis and dark plums tightly knit with sweet, gamey chocolate-like oak and underpinned by fine, crunchy tannin. It's spicy and aromatic, laced throughout by nuances of cloves and cinnamon. Long and vibrant, it finishes with lingering dark fruits and a bright acidity. 94 points; Jeremy Oliver

It pumps out sweet dark fruit backed with liberal toasty oak which, it must be said, smells alarmingly like a meat lovers pizza replete with BBQ sauce. There’s a menthol and floral perfume floating above it all too. In the mouth full bodied and dramatic with lashings of sweet black and red fruit, spicy clove and toast oak, aniseed and some more earthy flavours - almost overbearing in the amount of sweet (fruit) and savoury (oak) flavour it delivers. There’s also smooth ultra-fine grained (but firm) tannin, good freshness and excellent length of flavour. 94 points; Gary Walsh, The Wine Front

Old Block is delving into earthy, tarry blackberry country – a classic Barossa shiraz with some nutty oak influence edging across the nose. On the one hand there’s a deep anchor of fruit through the base, and on the other sits fragrant lift. Plum fruits linger through the finish, ripe, juicy and promising to deliver handsomely with time in the cellar. 93 Points; Nick Stock - Penguin Good Australian Wine Guide 2009 - November 2008.

The Relic is crafted from a portion of this 98-year old block of dry grown, organically farmed Shiraz that has been fermented on the skins of Viognier for added aromatics and lift.

Not a leaf is out of place in Liz and Brett Barnes' immaculate vineyard. Brett has a talent for viticulture, and his high quality fruit is always in demand. They planted their 4 hectare vineyard with Shiraz and Merlot in 1996 and plan to put in some Riesling and Chardonnay next year. The red soil over a mud-stone and granite base gives highly concentrated fruit which makes for some full-bodied, fruit-driven wines. Divine Magazine

Deep plum red. A funky opening note gives way quickly to an exotic concoction of blackberry, wood spices, brabies and violets. Overall, the impression is of an earthy, savoury wine with the merest whift of menthol coming through. On the palate there is much to admire: a creamy, textured wine with blackcurrant, orange peel spice and butter chocolate bringing a morish note to the wine. As it opens, black pepper and graphite notes provide added compliments. Slow cooked/braised meats with tomato based saucing or washed rind cheeses will be an appropriate partner to this wine. A wine that clearly needs time, and if opened now, decant. Winemaker Liz Barnes & Rick Kinzbrunner

Star Lane is a new star of the Beechworth district. Made with generous help from the region’s master winemaker, Rich Kinzbrunner, it’s meaty-rich, earth and complex, with a core of stewed dark berries and plums, robed in high-toned, classy oak. The velvety, profound palate is seamless and beautifully integrated with big, ripe tannins underneath. (14.2 per cent alcohol; cork). Ageing? Drink over eight years. Food ideas: Wild mushroom risotto; tea-smoked duck. Ralph Kyte Powell – The Age, Epicure uncorked

Great colour; a very serious wine with red fruits, Asian spices and well-handled oak in abundance; the palate is quite fine, despite the fruit weight, and the freshness for the vintage is commendable. Cork. 14.2% alc. Rating 94 Drink 2018 $70 Date Tasted Nov 08 James Halliday

A wine of depth and character from a new producer: slightly wild, funky and loaded with personality. Gripping tannins, very concentrated and long; good cellaring potential. Now to 15 years plus. Why $70 Well, here’s a clue: Giaconda’s Rick Kinzbrunner helped out. Food Meaty casserole 95 points Huon Hooke, Good Living, Sydney Morning Herald

Deep purple with distinct deep violet edges. Richer in fruit flavors, this wine displays a beautiful assortment of chocolate and vanilla aromas supported by big sweet berry red berries and fresh ripe plums, reminiscent of grandma's tasty home made jam. Exceptional structure, a well-balanced wine with soft chalky tannins and immersed with luscious dark cherry ripe flavours. Full bodied with a lasting enticing palate. Released in limited quantities, Taltarni Heathcote Shiraz is a rich flavored wine to enjoy young and fresh. A splendid match with roast meats and an ideal partner for a cheese platter. Cellaring: 10 years + Taltarni Winery Notes.

The 2005 Heathcote wine shows Aussie spicy cherry, tar, sweet and ripe red berries and a touch of jam on the nose. And just when one would expects to be blown away with the power of the palate emerges this quaint old-world restraint that makes it very approachable and drinkable and thinking about what to eat with it. The oak has already meshed, I disagree with the two-decade drinking windows by some of the reviews and would prefer to drink this over the next half-a-dozen years. Now - 2016; Quality: Excellent BW; WineStar© May 2010

Great colour; shows the depth of flavour without excessive alcohol possible in Heathcote; blackberry, licorice and dark chocolate, with ripe tannins and oak seamlessly integrated. Rating 95 Points; Outstanding; Drink 2025 Release Price $42.25 Date Tasted Jun 07 James Halliday Wine Companion 2009

Very rich, intense Aussie Christmas cake shiraz. Gorgeous nose - black and intense with aromas of raisins and spices. Lovely dense palate, rich with flavour, grippy tannins and some excellent oak. 5 Stars / Best Wines of 2007; Winestate Magazine Annual 2008

Been doing an audit of the samples that I have here; staggering number. No wonder Halliday has now resorted to using a forklift when arranging samples/tastings. Been finding some things that I didn’t know that I had. Relatively developed but drinking well. Tastes of tar, leather, licorice and blackberry and while it’s warm though the finish the whole package is an overwhelmingly positive experience. Lovely smoothness and indeed richness. If you like a good Heathcote red you will enjoy this. Rated : 92 Points; Alcohol : 14.5%; Price : $42; Closure : Screwcap; Drink : 2010 - 2015; By Campbell Mattinson; The Wine Front

The richness of this wine shows in the color, deep as black cherries with a bright edge in the glass. The dark cherry impression follows through in the taste, a bold, supple wine with tannins that add a mineral edge to the texture. It grows smokier with air, balanced between tannin and fruit in a textural pleasure that lasts. 92 Points; Wine & Spirits (USA)

Bright and jazzy, with impressively dark, brooding blackberry, dark plum and black pepper flavors, which ride on a highly polished frame that lets the finish roll on and on. Drink now through 2015. 350 cases imported. Score: 91 Points; Release Price: $US35; Harvey Steiman; The Wine Spectator

The nose shows attractive regional ripeness, the oak sits in all sweet and nutty, there are jubey red berries, and fresh primary characters. The palate has terrific supple texture and weight, deep dark berry flavours, quite ripe, finishing with smooth tannin glide. 91 Points; Nick Stock; Penguin Good Australian Wine Guide 2009

The 500 million year old volcanic soil of Heathcote has long been credited for the region’s outstanding shiraz. This wine has a soft palate with spicy fruit flavours and was noted for its texture and varietal style. National Liquor News (Australia)

The new 2010 Teusner Riebke Shiraz continues the theme of great value, luscious, vibrant drinking....characters for which the Riebke has become renowned! It has all the plush, velvety fruit characters of previous vintages, some gorgeous floral high tones, bright acidity and an opulent texture on the palate. As always, the name is a tip of the hat to the Riebke Brothers, whose vineyards play an integral role in the wines that we produce here at Teusner. The Riebke's old vineyards are located in the northern Barossa around the settlements of Ebenezer, Moppa and Kalimna. Leon, Steve and Nick consistently produce some of the best fruit in the Barossa... I guess when you've tended the vines for 5 generations you'd have a pretty good handle on your piece of dirt! Teusner
 
Despite being the descriptor of choice for many a wine writer, I have avoided playing this card – until now. Make no mistake, this is a cracker! The easiest thing to do when looking at this wine with knowledge of the Halliday rating would be to pot it and start picking holes through it and thinking the old bloke has lost it. Well the old bloke has nailed it! No surprises given its relative youth, the wine is a glass and teeth staining deep, dark purple with bright hues. The dark fruit aromas lead out of the glass on pouring. This is a monster nose of blackberry, dark cherry, aniseed and deep plum with notes of oak, tar and earth. The bouquet here is not of a bright and juicy twenty buck Barossa jobby but rather a super premium, flagship Shiraz. It is at least as serious in the mouth where the dark, concentrated profile continues with layer upon layer of complex, deep, dark fruit. Lashings of it. And then the pièce de résistance. The finish somehow ties of this amazing fruit into a textured, savoury ending balanced with riper tannins. It is the complete premium Barossa Shiraz, complete with premium rating. Unbelievably approachable now, the fruit and structure here will carry it for another decade at least. Drink: Now-2020+; Quality: Exceptional BW; WineStar© October 2011
 
Ex Torbreck winemaker Kim Teusner and brother-in-law Michael Page create the remarkable Teusner wines. Crimson-purple; the fragrant bouquet exudes plum and blackberry fruit, promptly picked up by the stylish medium-bodied palate; here those flavours are joined by perfect tannins, oak purring along in the background. From Barossa Valley, SA; Drink to 2030 with venison; Rating: 96 points, $19, Screwcap, 14.5% alc; James Halliday Top 100 for 2011; The Weekend Australian, November 19
 
Crimson-purple; the fragrant bouquet exudes plum and blackberry fruit, promptly picked up by the stylish medium-bodied palate; here those flavours are joined by perfect tannins, oak purring along in the background. So great is the balance that the wine will live forever, however enjoyable it is now. Drink by: 2030; Date tasted: 05/Sep/2011; Price: $19.00; Alcohol: 14.5%; Rating: 96 Points; James Halliday Wine Companion
 
Smooth, elegant and brightly lit, it’s scented with a spicy, peppery bouquet of violets, cassis and fresh chocolate/vanilla oak. Vibrant and juicy, with a lively, surprisingly intense presence of cassis, mulberries, dark plums and cherries supported by fine, supple tannins, it finishes with a lingering core of fruit and soft acidity. It’s fighting above its weight. Drink: 2012-2015+; Rating: 92 Points; Jeremy Oliver; The Australian Wine Annual 2012.

A brilliant vintage for Riebke, ranking among the very best. This is signature Kym Teusner, capturing the plush but poised and consummately balanced glory of northern Barossa shiraz, in all of its rich plum, black cherry and rhubarb depth but - crucially - with vibrant, lifted violet freshness. Vintage: 2010 Score: 92 points; Tyson Stelzer
 
Polished, generous and silky, offering plush, pure plum and boysenberry flavours that linger effortlessly against hints of tar and pepper as the finish sails on. Drink now through 2014. 2,000 cases made. 91 points; Harvey Steiman - The Wine Spectator

Attractive blackberry and blackcurrant aromas are very pure and fruit driven. Notes of spice, earthy minerals and subtle toasty oak add restrained complexity. Elegant and savoury in flavour and texture. It's medium bodied with tangy intensity and soft, ripe background tannins suupport it perfectly. A delicious savoury Hunter Shiraz.

The Thomas flagship, made from old, low-yielding vines on the Pokolbin estate vineyard. Has excellent purple-crimson hue, a rich plum and blackberry bouquet, and a perfectly balanced and proportioned palate with that special texture of top Hunter Valley shiraz. Who knows how long the wine will live. Drink: To 2050; 97 Points; James Halliday Wine Companion

Andrew Thomas quips that if you say “Kiss Shiraz” fast enough, you’ll discover what he really wanted to name his flagship wine. Taste it and you may feel an urge to kiss anything within reach, such is its gorgeous restraint, lifted pepper and spice, elegant structure and long strands of sinewy tannins. Drink: 2019-2029; Rating 96 Points; Tyson Stelzer

Tasted blind with a number of other 09 Hunter Shiraz and then a day or two later where it scored a couple of points higher – the + sign given on the first taste obviously started working (i.e. it went from a silver medal rating to a gold.) There’s a slight coconut toastiness here, and while oak plays a part, it’s in more of a supporting role this release. Medium bodied with good blackberry accented fruit, fresh acidity and a clean long finish. Looked altogether more together and complex on subsequent tasting showing florals and pepper spice, in amongst other things – I’ve misplaced my day two notes but remember well enough. A strong release. Rated : 94 Points Tasted : Jan11 Alcohol : 13.5% Price : $60 Closure : Screwcap Drink : 2013 - 2020+ Gary Walsh; The Wine Front

A more manicured style of shiraz with plenty of pizazz, pristine fruit and creamy oak. Powerful yet silky blueberry and earthy fruits backed by some superb tannin structure. Still a little in its shell, the Kiss really needs another five to 10 years before it shows its best. Angus Hughson; The Australian

Thorn-Clarke can boast of six successive generations in the Barossa growing wine grapes. Shotfire is the essential Australian Shiraz, offering a generous palate of ripe blackberry and plums, seasoned by spice and vanillan oak, supported by fine, pliant tannins.

Thorn-Clarke are one of the Braossa's most salubrious growers, supplying many of Australia's most popular labels. The best parcels of Shiraz are selected from the estate's Kabininge Vineyard. Grapes are crushed and destemmed, the juices run into open vats for vinification, pumped over twice daily to maximise colour, tannin and flavour extraction. A fastidious cooling regime is employed to ensure the ferments remain in the 22°C to 25°C range, preserving maximum expressiveness of the fruit. Pressing is conducted seven days after the crush, the wine is then transferred into a combination of new and prior use American and French oak hogsheads for an extended maturation of up to sixteen months.

Deep red/ purple in colour. A lifted nose of clean blackberry fruit accompanied by cedar wood characters, the oak elements are complex and layered with mocha and spice. The palate shows sweet fruit characters dominated by blackberry and plum, complimented by sweet Indian spices, in particular tumeric and cinnamon. The sweet fruit characters are balanced by rich savoury elements. The middle weight palate is rich and mouth filling, finishing with finely grained tannins and great length of savoury fruit with oak. A rich and voluptuous wine filled with matching spice, drinking brilliantly now. Shotfire gets better with each release, widely acclaimed internationally as the quintessential Australian Shiraz

Opens with juicy raspberry, spice, nutty coffee and chocolate sauce oak and just a flicker of mint. It’s medium to full bodied with fine soft tannins and impeccable balance throughout - the silky mouthfeel and nutty, slightly savoury, berry flavours really hit the spot. Good long finish. All very enjoyable. At the price a real winner too. Rated : 91 Points; The Wine Front

This blend of local vineyards, including Aberfeldy, has produced a wine with both regional and varietal definition. The wine has bright magenta colour, and aromas and flavours of red-berry conserve, spiciness and the complexity given by 18 months American-oak maturation. The palate is full and soft in front and middle, with flavour of small berry fruit and again the oak complimenting the fruit. The finish is medium firm with tannins coming from both fruit and oak. The wine has not been cold stabilized and so may form a harmless crystalline deposit in the bottle necessitating decanting before serving. This wine has power and finesse which makes it both approachable now and worth keeping for up to 10 years in good conditions.

Slippery smooth and delicious. Packed with plummy, vanillin, minty flavour and then controlled and dry through the finish. Not a hair out of place. Hints of complex earthiness in the background - flavours that should perform very well as the wine matures. Gergeous red wine drinking.

The Aberfeldy vineyard is a unique site – friable red loam over limestone nestled at the bottom of the easternmost hills of the Clare Valley, just five kilometres southeast of the Clare township. When the Birks family of Wendouree fame settled the area they planted this site with Shiraz in 1904. Many of these vines remain and those which have perished have been replaced with rootlings of the same clones. The cropping level in the vineyard is never more than 1.5 tonnes per acre, producing grapes with intense colour, flavour and tannins. This fruit is the backbone of our ‘Aberfeldy’ Shiraz.

The wine has vibrant magenta colour with aromatics of cherry, plum, dark berries and chocolate, complemented by the oak-derived characters of clove, cinnamon, nutmeg and vanilla. The palate is full bodied, with dark berry conserve flavours and balanced oak, tannin and acidity. The wine has persistent sweet fruit and oak aftertaste, with power and great finesse, and will reward patient cellaring. The wine has been sealed under Stelvin Lux + capsules in bottle and magnum to ensure freshness and authenticity.

The fruit for this wine is carefully sourced from several old vineyards in the Barossa Valley floor; areas include Tanunda, Seppeltsfield, Nuriootpa, Kalimna and Light Pass. Vine age is 100+ years for the oldest parcel and around 20 years for the youngest. It is the expert selection of these small parcels and subsequent winemaker prowess that creates the resultant reputable wine bearing the stamp of Tim Smith. Aged in a combination of new and old French oak, this wine is another that benefits from cellaring…if you can wait.

I source my Shiraz grapes from about 6 vineyard sites on the Barossa Valley floor. These sites include Eden Valley, Tanunda, Seppeltsfield, Nuriootpa, Kalimna and Light Pass. Vine age is +100 years of age for the oldest parcel, with the younger parcel being about 20 years of age. My approach to making Shiraz is to firstly highlight regionality. Winemaker-style is a close but definite second. The myriad of individual vineyard sites in the Barossa is our distinct advantage in shaping Shiraz wines; we have over a dozen distinct villages, numerous soils, and a range in elevation to achieve this.

Bright red-purple, an elegant and refined wine bringing together parcels of fruit from six old vine vineyards in the Eden and Barossa Valleys; it has outstanding length and precision to its red and black fruits, the tannin and oak perfectly weighted. Aged on lees in French and American Oak; neither fined or filtered. 14.5% Alc. Cellar to 2025. Tim Smith Wines has a 5-star winery rating in the 2012 Australian Wine Companion. 96 Points.